On July 11, Delaware Seashore State Park will hold its 35th annual Sandcastle Contest.

Mechanical, chemical, civil and electrical all comprise the vast and growing world of engineering.

On Delmarva, however, one would have to add another type of engineer to that list: sand.

On Saturday, July 11, Delaware Seashore State Park will be holding its 35th annual Sandcastle Contest for all ages. Registration starts at 9:30 a.m. and there can be one to five members on each team. There is no restriction on what materials and tools can be used but the use of natural material is an added bonus when it comes time to judge the sand creations.

"It's a great family event and it's free to enter and almost everyone gets a prize," Programs Manager Laura Scharle said. "We get locals and people vacationing to the area, (it's fun because) people get so creative."

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Glenda Roberts of Frankford works on her creation.CHUCK SNYDER PHOTO(Photo: CHUCK SNYDER PHOTO)

Entrants are judged based on four categories: originality/creativity, structural complexity, aesthetic appeal and the use of natural material. The winners receive prizes ranging from toys to gift certificates to local restaurants.

In year's past, the contest has witnessed some unique sculptures including a full-size replica of a Jeep in which the creator sat in while the judges were evaluating the teams' creations. Another year featured a whole living room in which the team members were able to sit on as well. Of course, some of the mainstays of the competition are always the classic sandcastle and mermaids and other aquatic themes.

For kids ages 12 and under, there is a category for them to enter as well. For Scharle, she says some of the children's sand creations in past years have dazzled her.